According to multiple reports, Punto signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.

The Twins at least mildly considered re-signing Punto, who earned $8 million over a two-year contract from 2009-2010. But the 33-year-old utility infielder had trouble staying on the field, nursing various ailments, and the Twins have younger, cheaper options to fill the same hole -- Trevor Plouffe and Matt Tolbert, to name two.

In seven seasons with the Twins Punto hit .248/.323/.324 with 12 home runs and 89 stolen bases in 2,707 plate appearances, but when healthy he was one of the best defensive infielders in baseball.